Focusing flash light



Aug- 25, 1931` H. w. JONES 1,820,620

FOCUS ING FLASH LIGHT Fild July 12, 1923 Patented Aug; 25, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFlcE HOMER W. JONES, F ELMHUBST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0ANATIONAL CARBON 070M- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK i FOCUSINGFLASH LIGHT "Application led Iuly 12, 1.923. Serial No. 651,149.

This invention relates to flashlights and particularly to focusingflashlights adapted to project a concentrated or a diffused beam oflight as desired. ,l y

To obtain a wider rangeV of illumination from flashlights it has beenthe practice to alter the spread of a reflected beam of light byadjusting the lamp and the reflector relatively to one another. Thefocusing mechanisms heretofore employed generally require one hand tohold the flashlight and another to manipulate the adjusting device and,usually having parts thereof disposed outside the outline of theflashlight casing, are liable to get out of adjustment by engaging otherobjects. The principal object of this invention is to vprovide `animproved focusing mechanism for adjusting thechimp and theA reflectorrelatively to one another Which-may be located within the outline of theflashlight casing and Which may be readily manipulated by the same handthat holds the flashlight. Another object is to provide a focusingmechanism thatV may be entirely supported by a removable head of aflashlight casing. l.

The above and other objects and the novel features of this inventionWill be apparent from the following description, takenwith the drawings,in which.

Fig. 1 is a side elevationy portion broken out, illustrating an improveflashlight embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional View of the head end of thesame.- y y v Broadly speaking, an improved-focusing mechanism embodyingthis invention comprises an operating device or wheel mounte Within aflashlight casing. and having a portion of its periphery exposed by aslot in said casing. The operating Wheelvmay berotatable about an axisextending lengthwise of the casing, desirably about the reflector axis,and is connected to a lamp holder' or reflector by mechanism forconverting the rotary m0- tion of the wheel to rectilinearv motion,whereby the lamp and the focus ofthe reflector may be adjustedrelatively to one another.` In a desirable embodiment of the inventionas herein disclosed the reflector View, with. a

is stationarv While the lamp and the lamp holder are adjustable alongthe reflector axis by a Wheel that has a resiliently mounted threadedhub part which bears against a fixed support in the casing and isrotatable in a fixed plane perpendicular to the reflector axis, thethreaded hub interfitting with a similarly threaded part of the lamvholder and also constituting a cushioned autment and contact'for thebattery and` its center contact.

yReferring to the drawing, the improved flashlight comprises asuitableicasing of tubular sheet metal or other material, tne bottompart C of which 1s adapted to contain a battery B supported by the usualspring E" in the removable endV cap E. The upper end or head Hof thecasin is removably coupled to the bottom part by interfitting threads10, and carries the stationary para,- bolic reflector R, the adjustableincandescent lamp L andthe associated. focusing mechanism, whereby thehead and these parts may be removed as a unit from thebottom art of thecasing to simplify assembly an inspection. A standard non-focusingflashlight may thus be converted into a ocusin merely substituting afocusin hea for the head of the nn-focusing'flas light. Thevusualremovable lens ring -J holds the cover glass G and the gasket F in. laced against the front end of the head an v re-v flecton The'lamp L iscarried by a threaded part 11' of a lamp holder that is movable by awheel W along the axis of the reflector through an axial opening 12 inthe reflector d The Wheel W is freely rotatable a limited number ofturns in either direction about the reflector axis and has a minorsegmental portion of its periphery projecting out through acircumferentially. extendin slot 13 in a e head wheredepression 13 inthe Wall of t by rotative force may be applied thereto by the thumb or afinger ofthe hand holding the flashlight. As shown, the diameter of thewheel may be nearly equal to the internal diameter. of the headcontaining it, only a slight clearance being necessary for operation andpurposes .of assembly. Tofacilitate any suitable mechanism that wilconvert its .rota motion into rectllinear motion and appl t e latter tothe'lamo holder. A desir- M ab e mechanism comorises a threadedconductive stem 14 that is secured to said holder and engages in theinternallythreaded cavity 15 of a nut 16 secured to the wheel W andforming the hub thereof'. The wheel Wis rotatable in a fixed planeperpendicular to the reflector axis and ma be held in this position by ahelical spring P thatbears against an inner shoulder 17 on the reflectorand against the bottom 18 of a cup-shaped shell 18secured to the lampholder, the pressure being transmitted through the stem 14 and hub' 16toa shoulder 16 on the latter which is thereby held against a fixedsupport A within the head. The spring P also offers suicient resistanceto the turning of the stem 14 and lamp holder with the wheel when thelatter is rotated, but an additional key may be provided between thelamp holder and reflector.

y The lparts 11 and 18 of the lamp holder with the interposedinsulating` washers 19 and 19 may be secured together and to the stem 14by an expanded end 20 of a reduced part v20 on saidstem. The reducedpart 2Ov extends'throue'h and is spaced from a central opening 18" inthe bottom of the shell 18, and its upper end 20 is engageable by thcenter lamp contact L.

The hub 16 is desirably of conductive mathrough and below a centralaperture 22 in the support A to provide a rotatable contact forengagingr the central terminal B of the batter This rotatable contactmay have a slight y convex surface and is advantageous because itsrotary wiping action keeps the contacting surfaces clean, resulting in alow resistance atk the point of contact. The hub 16, which may yieldagainst the pressure of the spring P, thus also constitutes a cushionedor resilient abutment `for the front end of the battery which maintainsa closed circuit at this point. The wheel, except it-s hub, A isnon-conducting and may be made of rigid 'ber, whereby the'currentconducting parts of the mechanism are effectively insulated fromthe casing, where the latter is made of 'ffmetaL The support A mayconsist of a disk of 0 rigid insulating material such as fiber and maybe held in fixed vosition against an internalbead 23 lby a .removablesplit spring ring 24. A metal contact ring 25 is secured to the bottomside of the support A by rivets l5 26, 26',k the latter also securingthe lower end terial and has a reduced part 2l that projects of aninsulation-covered conductor 27 to said support and electricallyconnecting it to said ring. The upper exposed end 27 of the conductor 27is in electrical contact with the inner surface of the reflector. Thecontact ring 25 or the .rivets 26, 26 are engageable by the upper end ofa circuit closing conductor 28 which may be operated by the usual switchS mounted on the part C ofthe casing. The construction is desirably suchthat when the head H is screwed firmly onto the casing body C, thedepression 13 and the switch S will be substantially in line, and thebattery, lamp and reflector will have a common axis.

The current for lighting the lamp has the following path: batteryterminal B, hub 16, stem 14 and reduced end 20, center lamp contact L-,lamp filament, outer lamp contact L lamp holder parts 11 and 18, springP, reflector R, conductor 27, rivet 26', ring 25, conductor 28, switchS, casing C, end cap E, spring E to the bottom or other terminal of thebatter Rotation of the wheel W-in one direction eeds the stem 14 and thelamp holder and lamp carried thereby along the reflector axis in onedirection and rotation of the wheel in the reverse direction moves thelamp holder and lamp in the opposite direction along the reflector axisa concentrated beam being reflected when the lamp filament issubstantially at the focus of the reflector. and diffused illuminationbeing delivered when the filament is in front of or behind the focalpoint. The same hand that holds the flashlight may operate the switch Sand the focusing wheel W` which, being entirely within the outline ofthe casing, will not accidentally get out of adjustment, therebyeliminating special means for locking the focusing mechanism. y

The operating device or wheel that projects through the -slot 13 may beof different form or smaller size than shown and mounted in the casingon an axis parallel to the reflector axis, the lamp holder and the meansconnecting it to the operating wheel may be of different constructionthan illustrated, and other changes may be made in the flashlightdisclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

- I claim: v

1. In a flashlight, the combination of a reflector, an incandescent lampcoaxial therewith, a casing for said lamp and said reflector, and meanswhereby said lampand said reflector may be adjusted relatively to oneanother to vary the spread ofthe reflected beam comprising a wheelrotatable ina fixed vplane about the axis of said reflector, said casinghaving an aperture exposing a portion of said wheel for manipulation.

2. In a flashlight, the. combination of a reflector, an incandescentlamp coaxial therewith, a casing enclosing said reflector and said lampand having an aperture in its'wall, and

lwheel and said lamp holder,

means whereby said lamp and said /reflector may be adjusted relativelyto one another to yary the spread of the reflected beam comprisingthrough said aperture and rotatable about an axis extendinglongitudinally ofthe reflector axis, said aperture being substantiallyclosed by a portion of the periphery of saidwheel.

3. In a flashlight, the combination of a stationary reflector, anincandescent lamp movable along the axis of said reector, a casing forsaid lamp and said reflector, and means whereby said lamp may beadjusted relatively to said reflector lcomprising a lamp holder, a wheelrotatable independently of said lamp holder about an axis extendinglongitudinally of the reflector axis, and means providing a threadedconnection between said ing an opening exposing a portion of' sald wheelfor mani ulation.

4. In a flas light, the combination of a4 an incandescent lamp movablealong the axis of said reflector, a casing enclosing said lamp and saidreflector, and means whereby said lamp may be adjusted relatively tosaid reflector to vary the beam of light comprising a wheel adjustablerelatively to said lamp and rotatable about said reflector axis, saidcasing having a slot exposing and substantially closed by a portion ofthe periphery ofsaid wheel.

5. In a. flashlight, the combination of an incandescent lamp, areflectortherefor, a casing for said lamp 'and said reflector, and meanscomprising a wheel whereby said lamp and said reflector may be adjustedrelatively to one another, said casing having a depression and anopening in saidvdepression expos ing a portion of the peripheraledge ofsaid fixed reflector,

' wheel for manipulation.

6. In a flashlight, the combination kof a lamp, a reflector therefor, aIcasi-ng for said lamp and said reflector, a fixed support in Saideasing, and means whereby said lamp and said reflector may be adjustedrelatively to one another to vary of light comprising a rotatable devicebearingl against said support in thedirection of its axis of rotation,said casing having an opening exposing a portion of for manipulation.

7. In a flashlight, the combination of an incandescent lamp, a reflectortherefor, a casing for said lamp and said reflector, a fixed supportin'said casing, and means whereby said lamp and said reflector may beadjusted relatively to one another to vary they spread of the beamof'light comprising a wheel havinga conductive hub Vbearing against saidsupport, said casing having an opening exposing a non-conductingperipheral portion of' said Wheel for manipulation.

8. In a flashlight, the combination of a a wheel projecting from saidcasingsaid casing hav-A I battery,

the spread of the beamsaid device stationary reflector, an incandescentlamp movable along the axis of said reflector, a casing enclosing saidlamp and said reflector, a support in said casing, means whereby saidlamp may be adjusted relatively to said reflector comprising a springurging said lamp toward said support, and a wheel between saidreflectorand said sup ort having a hub operatively connected to saidlamp and bearing against said support, said casing having anopeningexposing a portion of the periphery of said wheel formanipulation 9. In a flashlight, the combination of a casing, anincandescent lamp, a reflector therefor, a battery having a centralterminal, such reflector, lamp and battery being coaxially arranged insaid casing, means in said casing adjustable axiallyk relatively to saidlamp whereby said lamp and said reflector may be adjusted relatively toone another, and a fixed support insaid casing for such adjusting meanshavinga central aperture through which the terminal of saidy llnatterymaybe connected in circuit with said amp.

10. In a flashlight, the combination ofa casing, an. incandescent lamp,a reflectorl therefor, a battery, such reflector, lamp and battery beingcoaxially arranged in said casing, means rotatable independently of saidreflector about an axis extending longitudinally of said casing wherebysaid lamp and reflector may be adjusted relatively to one another, asupport for said rotatable means between said rotatable means and saidsaid support having an aperture, and means extending through saidaperture connecting said battery in circuit with said lamp.

11. In a flashlight, the combination of a casing, an incandescent lamp,a. reflector therefor. a battery having a central terminal. suchreflector, lamp and battery being coaxially arranged in said casing, awheel in said casing whereby said lanip'and said reflector may beadjusted relatively to one another, and a fixed support for said wheelbetween said lamp and said battery, said sup ort having an aperture andsaid wheel havmg a hub in said aperture in circuit with said batteryterminal. l

12. In a flashlight, the combination of a reflector, a lamp, meanswhereby said reflector and said lamp may be adjus ed relatively to oneanother to vary the spread of the reflected beam, a battery in circuitwith said lamp, a casing-containing said battery and having a removablehead carrying said reflector and lamp and such adjusting means, a coverglass secured to one end of said head in front of said reflector,and asupport for such adj ust-ing means secured in the opposite end of saidhead. ,I

13. In a flashlight,-the combination 0f a iso lng is in Said head, andsaid Wheel is rotatably mounted in snil bead midis operatively connectedto the adjustable member by menus adapted to convert the rotary motionof tbe wheel into rectilinear' motion.

In testimony whereof, I ailix vmy signature.

HOMER NV. JONES.

